Question

Cassius: And why should Caesar be a tyrant then? Poor man! I know he would not be a wolf but that he sees the Romans are but sheep. He were no lion were not Romans hinds. Those that with haste will make a mighty fire begin it with weak straws. What trash is Rome. Which statement best explains the figurative language in the bolded lines?

1) Cassius uses hyperbole to exaggerate how important Brutus is to the assassination plot.
2) Cassius uses a metaphor to convince Casca that Caesar is preying on the weak, vulnerable people of Rome.
3) Cassius uses personification to compare Caesar to a sheep that is easily controlled by the conspirators.
4) Cassius uses a simile to compare the people of Rome to a pack of hungry wolves.

Answer 1

Cassius uses a metaphor in the bolded lines from Shakespeare's 'Julius Caesar,' implying that Caesar is like a predator to the Roman people, who are depicted as weak prey.

Step-by-step explanation:

The figurative language in the bolded lines uses a metaphor to compare Caesar to a predatory animal and the Romans to prey, suggesting that Caesar only assumes the role of a tyrant because the Romans are passive and easily dominated. Cassius is presenting the idea that Caesar's rise to power is facilitated by the weakness of the Roman people (referred to as 'sheep'). Therefore, the statement that best explains the figurative language is: Cassius uses a metaphor to convince Casca that Caesar is preying on the weak, vulnerable people of Rome.